Have you ever wanted to go around the world by ship? Around-the-world cruising has become popular, and cruise lines are meeting demand by adding circumnavigations to their sailings. If you want to go on a world cruise, there are lots of choices for you. But how do you pick a world cruise? Here are some questions to consider as you make a decision.
Ship Size
Do you want a small, intimate ship with few passengers? Or a massive ocean liner? Small ships can be nice because you get to know the crew and get more personal service. But, smaller ships are more affected by weather and oceans, and if you tend to be seasick, you may do better on a larger ship. Larger ships will have more people, more amenities, and entertainment, but a larger ship may find some smaller, exotic ports inacessible. Additionally, larger ships may dock further away from the sites you want to see, forcing you to pay for tours and transportation.
Choosing a Cruise Line
Once you know the size of ship and style of cruise you want, the next step is to pick a cruise line. You may have a favorite cruise line (mine is Cunard, by the way), and you may want to start researching itineraries until you find one you like. A world cruise means you will be at sea for nearly four months, so make sure you like the cruise line you choose.
Cunard Line has the reputation for grand world voyages. Expect formal balls, fine dining, and the best ballrooms at sea. Cunard offers three voyages each winter, on its three ocean liners, the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth. Cunard voyages include enrichment programs, speakers, and world-class entertainment.
If you want more of a small luxury ship experience, there are several small ship cruise lines that do world cruises. Seabourn and Silversea combine exotic, off-the-beaten-track destinations and classic favorites with ultra-luxury pampering.
Regent Seven Seas and Crystal are good bets for those looking for slightly bigger ships, but who still want a luxury experience and all-inclusive pricing.
For those on a budget, consider Princess Cruises or Holland America.
Whatever cruise line you choose, book early to get the best deals. You should book about 18 months in advance for the best pricing and selection.
Picking the Right Itinerary
When selelcting an itinerary, here are some things to consider:
- Check on Sea Days. When choosing your cruise, look carefully at the dates on the schedule. Cruise lines don't always list sea days, so you will have to do the math to see how many days there are between ports.
- Check Ports of Call. Check the ports of call to see which itinerary sounds most intriguing to you.
- Make the Most of Overnights and Shore Excursions: Having a few overnights or extended port calls helps to break up the shipboard routine. On some world cruises you can disembark the ship for in-depth, multinight shore excursions, either during an overnight call or by rejoining the ship in its next port. While these trips are usually expensive, they enhance your experience and give you a break from the shipboard routine.
- See How Long You're In Port: Also, make sure port stays aren't too short so that you actually have enough time to explore your destinations.
- Take Advantage of Perks: Check what perks you get for doing the full world cruise. World cruisers may get perks such as On Board Credit, free gratuities, and invitations to special events, particularly if you book early.
Cunard has just released is 2016 World Voyage Itineraries, which will be available to book on September 8, 2014. You can downloand the brochure below.
